A dobby

ABSTRACT

Dobby with logic control, in which for each heald shaft a needle reads a pattern card and controls the heald shaft operating mechanism, wherein first the reading needle (4) and pattern card perform in the longitudinal direction of the two card reciprocally a pilgrim step movement (61), namely two steps forward, one step backward, and second the reading needle and pattern card perform a reciprocal movement in transverse direction to the pattern card preferably each for a half or full interval back and forth (68).

O United States Patent 1 [111 3,724,510 Kleiner [451 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] A DOBBY 3,407,848 10/1968 Fumat ..139 1 2,926,703 3/1960 Scheibel et al. ..l39/68 X [75] Inventor" T Klein" wadenswl SW26" 1,256,644 2/1918 Barlow ..l39/66 R 3,554,238 1/1971 Hoenig ..l39/68 [73] Assignee: Stiiubli Ltd., Zurich, Switzerland ,171,445 3/1965 Honegger ..l39/33l [22] Filed: May 1971 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi 21 APPL 14 ,95 Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 Dobby with logic control, in which for each heald May 29, SWltZCllafld shaft a needle reads a pattern card and controls h heald shaft operating mechanism, wherein first the Blast/11%: reading needle (4) and pattern card perform in the C 0 I I I I a u a a I u u o I I I u v I I I u u a 0 l a a n I I n I I u a c l n o n II a [58] Field of Search g ?i pilgrim step movement (61), namely two steps forward, one step backward, and second the reading needie and pattern card perform a reciprocal movement [56] References cued in transverse direction to the pattern card preferably UNITED STATES PATENTS each for a half or full interval back and forth (68).

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DOBBY The invention relates to a dobby which for each heddle frame has a coupling consisting of an eccentric ring with a slideable wedge, which ring is arranged on the driving shaft, and a connecting rod encircling the ring, wherein the wedge is controlled by an arm which is provided with a member, such as a needle, for reading the pattern card in such a manner that the wedge engages either a recess of the driving shaft or engages the connecting rod. The invention also includes dobby apparatus for performing the method. Q 1

In the known practice, a dobby operates with picks following each other in what is termed a correct sequence if the weaving machine controlled by the dobby can be changed at any time from a forward to a backward motion without a mistake appearing in the woven pattern. This is particularly important if a mistake occurs during insertion of a pick and the pickmistake must beovercome. In such dobbies, it is known for each shaft to arrange four reading needles which are axially movable in place or two axially and side wardly movable reading needles which read even and uneven and also old and new picks from a pattern card. The pattern information read from the reading needles is transferred to auxiliary members, stored therein and at the right time moved to the part to be coupled to the heddle frame mechanism. Each intermediate member which is connected into the control of the coupling and which serves as information storage, pick sorting member or power amplifier, processes one after the other the information transmitted from the pattern card to the reading needle but it does so only with a time shift which is caused by reaction times, operating clearances and safety apparatus. Such time shifts are also time losses during the operating and results in the entire time for the reversal of the coupling members becoming more complicated and the time of movement for the heddle frames being limited. Thus, the rotational speed of the dobby is reduced. It is also known that each intermediate member connected into the control mechanism is a cause for possible errors and in' addition affects the size and cast of the machine.

The dobby is characterized in such a manner that for each heddle frame one single reading needle is arranged which reads successively information for the position of the heddle frame for the even, uneven, old and new pick insertion on the pattern card and transmits same directly to the coupling unit which in turn operates the heddle frame. The reading needle is moved, alone or with a part of the transmitting member connected to it, on the pattern card longitudinally thereof and/or transversely thereto for one or several this method of operation which is a condition for a logically operating dobby.

According to the method of the invention, this logic control can be carried out, for example, in such a manner that, aside from the transverse movement the reading member reads the pattern card twice during a pick insertion and the pattern card is moved on in pilgrim step by the card cylinder, namely first a forward indexing for the two picks then a backward indexing for one pick.

The indexing steps can follow one another referenced from the shed intersection of the heddle frames, as follows:

During the shed intersection the reading member is lifted, moved laterally and again lowered, while at the same time the pattern card is turned back for one pick to again-read and anticipatorily control the heddle frame position for the preceding pick insertion;simultaneously with the pick insertion and between the renewed lifting and lowering of the reading member, the pattern card is indexed forwardly for two picks after which at the next shed intersection the abovementioned steps are again taken but this time the lateral displacement of the reading member relative to the pattern card occurs in the opposite direction, etc.

For performing the method of the invention a dobby is used which is characterized in that the reading members, like reading needles, are guided, in combs which are constructed for a back and forth movement in the axial direction of the card cylinder. I i The method of the invention is discussed more in detail in connection with the exemplary embodiment of a dobby for the control of a heddle frame, which embodirnent is schematically illustrated in the drawings, in

die 4 'which'serves for reading the patternlike control.

which: 7 v

FIGS. 1 to 5 are front views of ashed mechanism in five different positions;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view; along the line Vl-VI of FIG. 3; n FIGS. 7 and 8 are top views of the shed forming mechanism with two different needle; 7 g

FIG. 9 illustrates the motion diagram of the dobby at a simple, nonlogic control, g FIG. 10 illustrates the motion diagram of the dobby at a logic control; and i i FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate four different positionsof the pattern card relative to the reading needle of the shed forming mechanism. 7 I

The pattern card 62 provided with the openings 3, 3' is moved together with thecard cylinder 61L The neeposiitions of the reading openings 3, 3 is provided at one'end of the control arm 10. The control arm has on its other end an annular ring 14 through which the driving shaft 15 extends. The

eccentric ring 28 is positioned on, and for rotation with respect to, the driving shaft and the connecting rod 18 is positioned on said eccentric ring 28. The connecting rod pivots the motion member 20 for the heddle frame 44 (which is only schematically indicated in the draw ing) about the pivot point 48. The wedge 13, is supported radially slidingly on the'eccentric ring 28, which wedge in its two extreme positions engages either the recess 29, 29' of the driving shaft 15 or the zone 30, 30' which is formed by the ends of the semicircularguide rails 16. Theguide rails'consist of spring steel and have approximately radially directed slots 17 which serve for forming guiding the rail on the pins 31 secured to the connecting rod. The ring is offset and has a collar 34 which extends axially beyond the plane of the control arm and which slides in a groove 27 of the wedge controls to the position of the wedge on the eccentric ring 28.

The two springs 49 and 50 engage the control arm 10 which springs are mounted on the frame of the dobby at 55. The spring 49 which acts in the direction of the slot 56 is weaker than the spring 50 between the slot 56 and the reading needle 4. The fixed stop is identified with 57 on which stop the control arm 10 can slide with its slot 56. The lifting of the control arm 10 and thereby the needle 4 is accomplished by the lifting rod 60.

Since the openings 3, 3' in the pattern card 62 are arranged in two longitudinally extending rows, FIGS. 11 to 14, for each following pick reading the arm 4 guided in the comb 68 is bent slightly sidewardly and the needle 10 starting from the comb is moved back and forth for one-half heddle frame division.

In connection with the motion diagram of FIG. 10 the operation of the logically operating dobby will be described hereinafter. The diagram illustrates the picks 2', 1 and 2.

FIGS. 11 to 14 each illustrate a top view of the same perforated pattern card, whereby each opening 3, 3' has the number of the pick which it controls. The figures show the position of the pattern card 62 relative to the fixed position axis 67 (FIG. 13) of the needle 4 transversely to the direction of movement of the pattern card.

As a starting point for the description, the time of the insertion of the pick 2' is chosen during which time the next pick 1 is read. The situation corresponds to the position of the shed forming mechanism according to FIG. 1. The heddle frame 44 is in the lower shed position 44, namely the wider side of the eccentric ring 28 is positioned below the driving shaft 15. The lifting rod 60 has lifted the needle 4 out of the pattern card 62 and is just now lowered so that the needle partly engages the opening 3 for reading the pick No. l. The card cylinder 61 has indexed the pattern card 62 for two picks in, forward direction V to the next position. The needle is positioned, as illustrated in FIG. 7, above the left row of openings with the uneven picks 1, 3, 5, etc.

Next, the lifting rod 60 is lowered and the needle 4 engages the opening 3 (FIG. 11). Reference is made to the motion diagram (FIG. 9) which shows at the FIG. 2 notation the time when the movement of the heddle frame is released. In the coupling, the wedge 13 engages the driving shaft 15 since the heddle frame 44 is to reach the high shed position 44". The control procedure for the pick No. l is now concluded.

In order that the logical operation of the weaving machine will continue during a change thereof to backward motion, for example, which may be caused by a thread breakage, the control members of the shed forming mechanism must again read the preceding pick. In the zone of the shed intersection, thus at a shaft rotation of 180 (FIG. 10) and position according to FIG. 5, the needle 4 is lifted out from the pattern card 62 by the lifting rod 60, the card cylinder 61 indexes the pattern card in the backward direction R for one pick, and the needle is moved throughthe comb 68 for one half interval parallel to the cylinder axis into the position according to FIG. 8. There then occurs the reading of the preceding pick 2 by the needle 4, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

This control adjustment which serves only safety is maintained until the heddle frame 44 reaches the upper shed position and the first pick is inserted (FIG. 3). The heddle frame position for the next, the second, pick must then be read and controlled. The rod 60 lifts the needle 4 and the shed forming mechanism assumes the position shown in FIG. 3. After the pattern card 62 has been indexed for two picks to the next position and the needle 4 has been lowered to the position of FIG. 4, the

heddle frame remains in the'upper shed position because the wedge 13 does not engage the shaft 15 and the connecting rod 18 is not changed in its position by the eccentric ring 28. In addition the needle according to FIG. 13 has read the second pick on the pattern card 62. For completeness, FIG. 14 illustrates the reading situation for the backward motion. The situation corresponds to the position in FIG. 11 in that the position of the heddle frame was read for the preceding, that is the already performed, first pick insertion. This reading is effected as a precautionary measure for a possible backward motion.

FIG. 9 illustrates a motion diagram in which the positions according to FIGS. 1 and 4 are entered. Here, however, the card cylinder does not index the pattern card in pilgrim step, namely two picks forward and one pick backward, but forwardly pick for pick. One does not have a logical operation of the dobby so that in the event pick thread repairs are necessary certain controls must be released by hand.

The important differences between the methods of operation illustrated in the two diagrams FIGS. 9 and 10 consist in that according to FIG. 9 the cylinder indexes the pattern card pick by pick into the center of the shed standstill and simultaneously the lateral movement of the needle takes place, while according to FIG.

10, an additional needle lifting occurs during the shed intersection and the pattern card is indexed in pilgrim step.

In the described examples, the reading needle 4 performs a movement transversely to the direction of movement of the pattern card 62. In place of this, however, it is also possible that the entire pattern card indexing cylinder 61, in addition to its indexing movement, performs a movement in its axial direction, namely transversely to the direction of movement of the pattern card 62, while the reading needle moves only up and down.

Instead of the indexing cylinder for the pattern card performing the described pilgrim step, the reading needle can be moved in longitudinal direction of the pattern card in such a manner that it performs the same steps.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Adobby, comprising:

a rotatable drive shaft;

an eccentric ring mounted on said drive shaft and being rotatable with respect thereto;

a connecting rod having means defining a first opening therein and adapted to rotatably receive said eccentric ring therein;

a wedge member radially slidably mounted on said A: eccentric ring and adapted to releasably couple means on the opposite end thereof and adapted to engage a pattern card'having at least two rows of selectively positioned holes therein, said control arm being adapted to permitsaid needle means to become aligned with selected ones of said rows; and

connecting means for connecting said control arm to said wedge member whereby a movement of said control arm effects a radially slidable movement of said wedge member to thereby control said coupling between said eccentric ring and said drive shaft. g

2. A dobby according to claim 1, including control means for selectively controlling said control arm and the position of said needle means to effect an alignment of said needle means with at least one of said rows.

3. A dobby according to claim 2, wherein said control arm has a flexible characteristic and said flexible characteristic permits a lateral shiftability of said needle means to effect said alignment with said selected ones of said rows in response to said control means.

4.- A dobby according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises a laterally shiftable. comb member engaging said control arm adjacent the end thereof containing said needle means, said comb member effecting a flexing of said control arm to align said needle means with said selected ones of said rows.

5. A dobby according to claim 4, wherein said means movably supporting said control arm comprises a pivotal support for pivotally supporting said control arm for movement about a pivot axis.

6. A dobby according to claim 5, wherein said pivot axis is located between said second openingand said needle means; and

including a lifting bar adapted to engage and pivot said control arm about said pivot axis to effect a cooperation of said needle means with a pattern of holes in said pattern card. 

1. A dobby, comprising: a rotatable drive shaft; an eccentric ring mounted on said drive shaft and being rotatable with respect thereto; a connecting rod having means defining a first opening therein and adapted to rotatably receive said eccentric ring therein; a wedge member radially slidably mounted on said eccentric ring and adapted to releasably couple said eccentric ring and said drive shaft; a control arm and means movably supporting said control arm, said control arm having means on one end defining a second opening therethrough larger in diameter than said drive shaft and receiving said drive shaft therein, said control arm having needle means on the opposite end thereof and adapted to engage a pattern card having at least two rows of selectively positioned holes therein, said control arm being adapted to permit said needle means to become aligned with selected ones of said rows; and connecting means for connecting said control arm to said wedge member whereby a movement of said control arm effects a radially slidable movement of said wedge member to thereby control said coupling between said eccentric ring and said drive shaft.
 2. A dobby according to claim 1, including control means for selectively controlling said control arm and the position of said needle means to effect an alignment of said needle means with at least one of said rows.
 3. A dobby according to claim 2, wherein said control arm has a flexible characteristic and said flexible characteristic permits a lateral shiftability of said needle means to effect said alignment with said selected ones of said rows in response to said control means.
 4. A dobby according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises a laterally shiftable comb member engaging said control arm adjacent the end thereof containing said needle means, said comb member effecting a flexing of said control arm to align said needle means with said selected ones of said rows.
 5. A dobby according to Claim 4, wherein said means movably supporting said control arm comprises a pivotal support for pivotally supporting said control arm for movement about a pivot axis.
 6. A dobby according to claim 5, wherein said pivot axis is located between said second opening and said needle means; and including a lifting bar adapted to engage and pivot said control arm about said pivot axis to effect a cooperation of said needle means with a pattern of holes in said pattern card. 